The Complete Memoires of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

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Casanova : THE COMPLETE MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA (Complete Set of Six Volumes), The Rare Unabridged London Edition Of 1894, plus An Unpublished Chapter of History, By Arthur Symons (Illustrated)

continually shedding tears at the thought of Spain.

Ambition is a more powerful passion than avarice. Besides, Farinello hadanother reason for unhappiness.

He had a nephew who was the heir to all his wealth, whom he married to anoble Tuscan lady, hoping to found a titled family, though in an indirectkind of way. But this marriage was a torment to him, for in his impotentold age he was so unfortunate as to fall in love with his niece, and tobecome jealous of his nephew. Worse than all the lady grew to hate him,and Farinello had sent his nephew abroad, while he never allowed the wifeto go out of his sight.

Lord Lincoln arrived in Bologna with an introduction for the cardinallegate, who asked him to dinner, and did me the honour of giving me aninvitation to meet him. The cardinal was thus convinced that LordLincoln and I had never met, and that the grand duke of Tuscany hadcommitted a great injustice in banishing me. It was on that occasionthat the young nobleman told me how they had spread the snare, though hedenied that he had been cheated; he was far too proud to acknowledge sucha thing. He died of debauchery in London three or four years after.

I also saw at Bologna the Englishman Aston with Madame Slopitz, sister ofthe Charming Cailimena. Madame Slopitz was much handsomer than hersister. She had presented Aston with two babes as beautiful as Raphael'scherubs.

I spoke of her sister to her, and from the way in which I sang herpraises she guessed that I had loved her. She told me she would be inFlorence during the Carnival of 1773, but I did not see her again tillthe year 1776, when I was at Venice.

The dreadful Nina Bergonci, who had made a madman of Count Ricla, and wasthe source of all my woes at Barcelona, had come to Bologna at thebeginning of Lent, occupying a pleasant house which she had taken. Shehad carte blanche with a banker, and kept up a great state, affirmingherself to be with child by the Viceroy of Catalonia, and demanding thehonours which would be given to a queen who had graciously chosen Bolognaas the place of her confinement. She had a special recommendation to thelegate, who often visited her, but in the greatest secrecy.

The time of her confinement approached, and the insane Ricla sent over aconfidential man, Don Martino, who was empowered to have the childbaptized, and to recognize it as Ricla's natural offspring.

Nina made a show of her condition, appearing at the theatre and in thepublic places with an enormous belly. The greatest noble of Bologna paidcourt to her, and Nina told them that they might do so, but that shecould not guarantee their safety from the jealous dagger of Ricla. Shewas impudent enough to tell them what happened to me at Barcelona, notknowing that I was at Bologna.

She was extremely surprised to hear from Count Zini, who knew me, that Iinhabited the same town as herself.

When the count met me he asked me if the Barcelona story was true. I didnot care to take him into my confidence, so I replied that I did not knowNina, and that the story had doubtless been made up by her to see whetherhe would encounter danger for her sake.

When I met the cardinal I told him the whole story, and his eminence wasastonished when I gave him some insight into Nina's character, andinformed him that she was the daughter of her sister and her grandfather.

"I could stake my life," said I, "that Nina is no more with child thanyou are."

"Oh, come!" said he, laughing, "that is really too strong; why shouldn'tshe have a child? It is a very simple matter, it seems to me. Possiblyit may not be Ricla's child but there can be no doubt that she is withsomebody's child. What object could she have for feigning pregnancy?"

"To make herself famous by defiling the Count de Ricla, who was a modelof justice and virtue before knowing this Messalina. If your eminenceknew the hideous character of Nina you would not wonder at anything shedid."

"Well, we shall see."

"Yes."

About a week later I heard a great noise in the street, and on putting myhead out of the window I saw a woman stripped to the waist, and mountedon an ass, being scourged by the hangman, and hooted by a mob of all thebiricchini in Bologna. Severini came up at the same moment and informedme that the woman was the chief midwife in Bologna, and that herpunishment had been ordered by the cardinal archbishop.

"It must be for some great crime," I observed.

"No doubt. It is the woman who was with Nina the day before yesterday."

"What! has Nina been brought to bed?"

"Yes; but of a still-born child."

"I see it all."

Next day the story was all over the town.

A poor woman had come before the archbishop, and had complained bitterlythat the midwife Teresa had seduced her, promising to give her twentysequins if she would give her a fine boy to whom she had given birth afortnight ago. She was not given the sum agreed upon, and in her despairat hearing of the death of her child she begged for justice, declaringherself able to prove that the dead child said to be Nina's was inreality her own.

The archbishop ordered his chancellor to enquire into the affair with theutmost secrecy, and then proceed to instant and summary execution.

A week after this scandal Don Martino returned to Barcelona; but Ninaremained as impudent as ever, doubled the size of the red cockades whichshe made her servants wear, and swore that Spain would avenge her on theinsolent archbishop. She remained at Bologna six weeks longer,pretending to be still suffering from the effects of her confinement.The cardinal legate, who was ashamed of having had anything to do withsuch an abandoned prostitute, did his best to have her ordered to leave.

Count Ricla, a dupe to the last, gave her a considerable yearly income onthe condition that she should never come to Barcelona again; but in ayear the count died.

Nina did not survive him for more than a year, and died miserably fromher fearful debauchery. I met her mother and sister at Venice, and shetold me the story of the last two years of her daughter's life; but it isso sad and so disgusting a tale that I feel obliged to omit it.

As for the infamous midwife, she found powerful friends.

A pamphlet appeared in which the anonymous author declared that thearchbishop had committed a great wrong in punishing a citizen in soshameful a manner without any of the proper formalities of justice. Thewriter maintained that even if she were guilty she had been unjustlypunished, and should appeal to Rome.

The prelate, feeling the force of these animadversions, circulated apamphlet in which it appeared that the midwife had made three priorappearances before the judge, and that she would have been sent to thegallows long ago if the archbishop had not hesitated to shame three ofthe noblest families in Bologna, whose names appeared in documents in thecustody of his chancellor.

Her crimes were procuring abortion and killing erring mothers,substituting the living for the dead, and in one case a boy for a girl,thus giving him the enjoyment of property which did not belong to him.

This pamphlet of the prelate reduced the patrons of the infamous midwifeto silence, for several young noblemen whose mothers had been attended byher did not relish the idea of their family secrets being brought tolight.

At Bologna I saw Madame Marucci, who had been expelled from Spain for thesame reason as Madame Pelliccia. The latter had retired to Rome, whileMadame Marucci was on her way to Lucca, her native country.

Madame Soavi, a Bolognese dancer whom I had known at Parma and Paris,came to Bologna with her daughter by M. de Marigni. The girl, whose namewas Adelaide, was very beautiful, and her natural abilities had beenfostered by a careful education.

When Madame Soavi got to Bologna she met her husband whom she had notseen for fifteen years.

"Here is a treasure for you," said she, shewing him her daughter.

"She's certainly very pretty, but what am I to do with her? She does notbelong to me."

"Yes she does, as I have given her to you. You must know that she hassix thousand francs a year, and that I shall be her cashier till I gether married to a good dancer. I want her to learn character dancing, andto make her appearance on the boards. You must take her out onholidays."

"What shall I say if people ask me who she is?"

"Say she is your daughter, and that you are certain, because your wifegave her to you."

"I can't see that."

"Ah, you have always stayed at home, and consequently your wits arehomely."

I heard this curious dialogue which made me laugh then, and makes melaugh now as I write it. I offered to help in Adelaide's education, butMadame Soavi laughed, and said,--

"Fox, you have deceived so many tender pullets, that I don't like totrust you with this one, for fear of your making her too precocious."

"I did not think of that, but you are right."

Adelaide became the wonder of Bologna.

A year after I left the Comte du Barri, brother-in-law of the famousmistress of Louis XV., visited Bologna, and became so amorous of Adelaidethat her mother sent her away, fearing he would carry her off.

Du Barri offered her a hundred thousand francs for the girl, but sherefused the offer.

I saw Adelaide five years later on the boards of a Venetian theatre.When I went to congratulate her, she said,--

"My mother brought me into the world, and I think she will send me out ofit; this dancing is killing me."

In point of fact this delicate flower faded and died after seven years ofthe severe life to which her mother had exposed her.

Madame Soavi who had not taken the precaution to settle the six thousandfrancs on herself, lost all in losing Adelaide, and died miserably afterhaving rolled in riches. But, alas! I am not the man to reproach anyoneon the score of imprudence.

At Bologna I met the famous Afflisio, who had been discharged from theimperial service and had turned manager. He went from bad to worse, andfive or six years later committed forgery, was sent to the galleys, andthere died.

I was also impressed by the example of a man of a good family, who hadonce been rich. This was Count Filomarino. He was living in greatmisery, deprived of the use of all his limbs by a succession of venerealcomplaints. I often went to see him to give him a few pieces of money,and to listen to his malevolent talk, for his tongue was the only memberthat continued active. He was a scoundrel and a slanderer, and writhedunder the thought that he could not go to Naples and torment hisrelations, who were in reality respectable people, but monsters accordingto his shewing.

Madame Sabatini, the dancer, had returned to Bologna, having made enoughmoney to rest upon her laurels. She married a professor of anatomy, andbrought all her wealth to him as a dower. She had with her her sister,who was not rich and had no talents, but was at the same time veryagreeable.

At the house I met an abbe, a fine young man of modest appearance. Thesister seemed to be deeply in love with him, while he appeared to begrateful and nothing more.

I made some remark to the modest Adonis, and he gave me a very sensibleanswer. We walked away together, and after telling each other whatbrought us to Bologna we parted, agreeing to meet again.

The abbe, who was twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was not inorders, and was the only son of a noble family of Novara, which wasunfortunately poor as well as noble.

He had a very scanty revenue, and was able to live more cheaply atBologna than Novara, where everything is dear. Besides, he did not carefor his relations; he had no friends, and everybody there was more orless ignorant.

The Abbe de Bolini, as he was called, was a man of tranquil mind, livinga peaceful and quiet life above all things. He liked lettered men morethan letters, and did not trouble to gain the reputation of a wit. Heknew he was not a fool, and when he mixed with learned men he was quiteclever enough to be a good listener.

Both temperament and his purse made him temperate in all things, and hehad received a sound Christian education. He never talked aboutreligion, but nothing scandalized him. He seldom praised and neverblamed.

He was almost entirely indifferent to women, flying from ugly women andblue stockings, and gratifying the passion of pretty ones more out ofkindliness than love, for in his heart he considered women as more likelyto make a man miserable than happy. I was especially interested in thislast characteristic.

We had been friends for three weeks when I took the liberty of asking himhow he reconciled his theories with his attachment to Brigida Sabatini.

He supped with her every evening, and she breakfasted with him everymorning. When I went to see him, she was either there already or came inbefore my call was over. She breathed forth love in every glance, whilethe abbe was kind, but, in spite of his politeness, evidently bored.

Brigida looked well enough, but she was at least ten years older than theabbe. She was very polite to me and did her best to convince me that theabbe was happy in the possession of her heart, and that they both enjoyedthe delights of mutual love.

But when I asked him over a bottle of good wine about his affection forBrigida, he sighed, smiled, blushed, looked down, and finally confessedthat this connection was the misfortune of his life.

"Misfortune? Does she make you sigh in vain? If so you should leaveher, and thus regain your happiness."

"How can I sigh? I am not in love with her. She is in love with me, andtries to make me her slave."

"How do you mean?"

"She wants me to marry her, and I promised to do so, partly fromweakness, and partly from pity; and now she is in a hurry."

"I daresay; all these elderly girls are in a hurry."

"Every evening she treats me to tears, supplications, and despair. Shesummons me to keep my promise, and accuses me of deceiving her, so youmay imagine that my situation is an unhappy one."

"Have you any obligations towards her?"

"None whatever. She has violated me, so to speak, for all the advancescame from her. She has only what her sister gives her from day to day,and if she got married she would not get that."

"Have you got her with child?"

"I have taken good care not to do so, and that's what has irritated her;she calls all my little stratagems detestable treason."

"Nevertheless, you have made up your mind to marry her sooner or later?"

"I'd as soon hang myself. If I got married to her I should be four timesas poor as I am now, and all my relations at Novara would laugh at me forbringing home a wife of her age. Besides, she is neither rich nor wellborn, and at Novara they demand the one or the other."

"Then as a man of honour and as a man of sense, you ought to break withher, and the sooner the better."

"I know, but lacking normal strength what am I to do? If I did not goand sup with her to-night, she would infallibly come after me to see whathad happened. I can't lock my door in her face, and I can't tell her togo away."

"No, but neither can go on in this miserable way.

"You must make up your mind, and cut the Gordian knot, like Alexander."

"I haven't his sword."

"I will lend it you."

"What do you mean?"

"Listen to me. You must go and live in another town. She will hardly goafter you there, I suppose."

"That is a very good plan, but flight is a difficult matter."

"Difficult? Not at all. Do you promise to do what I tell you, and Iwill arrange everything quite comfortably. Your mistress will not knowanything about it till she misses you at supper."

"I will do whatever you tell me, and I shall never forget your kindness;but Brigida will go mad with grief."

"Well my first order to you is not to give her grief a single thought.You have only to leave everything to me. Would you like to start to-morrow?"

"To-morrow?"

"Yes. Have you any debts?"

"No."

"Do you want any money?"

"I have sufficient. But the idea of leaving tomorrow has taken my breathaway. I must have three days delay."

"Why so?"

"I expect some letters the day after to-morrow, and I must write to myrelations to tell them where I am going."

"I will take charge of your letters and send them on to you."

"Where shall I be?"

"I will tell you at the moment of your departure; trust in me. I willsend you at once where you will be comfortable. All you have to do is toleave your trunk in the hands of your landlord, with orders not to giveit up to anyone but myself."

"Very good. I am to go without my trunk, then."

"Yes. You must dine with me every day till you go, and mind not to tellanyone whatsoever that you intend leaving Bologna."

"I will take care not to do so."

The worthy young fellow looked quite radiant. I embraced him and thankedhim for putting so much trust in me.

I felt proud at the good work I was about to perform, and smiled at thethought of Brigida's anger when she found that her lover had escaped.I wrote to my good friend Dandolo that in five or six days a young abbewould present himself before him bearing a letter from myself. I beggedDandolo to get him a comfortable and cheap lodging, as my friend was sounfortunate as to be indifferently provided with money, though anexcellent man. I then wrote the letter of which the abbe was to be thebearer.

Next day Bolini told me that Brigida was far from suspecting his flight,as owing to his gaiety at the thought of freedom he had contented her sowell during the night she had passed with him that she thought him asmuch in love as she was.

"She has all my linen," he added, "but I hope to get a good part of itback under one pretext or another, and she is welcome to the rest."

On the day appointed he called on me as we had arranged the night before,carrying a huge carpet bag containing necessaries. I took him to Modenain a post chaise, and there we dined; afterward I gave him a letter forM. Dandolo, promising to send on his trunk the next day.

He was delighted to hear that Venice was his destination, as he had longwished to go there, and I promised him that M. Dandolo should see that helived as comfortably and cheaply as he had done at Bologna.

I saw him off, and returned to Bologna. The trunk I dispatched after himthe following day.

As I had expected, the poor victim appeared before me all in tears thenext day. I felt it my duty to pity her; it would have been cruel topretend I did not know the reason for her despair. I gave her a long butkindly sermon, endeavouring to persuade her that I had acted for the bestin preventing the abbe marrying her, as such a step would have plungedthem both into misery.

The poor woman threw herself weeping at my feet, begging me to bring herabbe back, and swearing by all the saints that she would never mentionthe word "marriage" again. By way of calming her, I said I would do mybest to win him over.

She asked where he was, and I said at Venice; but of course she did notbelieve me. There are circumstances when a clever man deceives bytelling the truth, and such a lie as this must be approved by the mostrigorous moralists.

Twenty-seven months later I met Bolini at Venice. I shall describe themeeting in its proper place.

A few days after he had gone, I made the acquaintance of the fairViscioletta, and fell so ardently in love with her that I had to make upmy mind to buy her with hard cash. The time when I could make women fallin love with me was no more, and I had to make up my mind either to dowithout them or to buy them.

I cannot help laughing when people ask me for advice, as I feel socertain that my advice will not be taken. Man is an animal that has tolearn his lesson by hard experience in battling with the storms of life.Thus the world is always in disorder and always ignorant, for those whoknow are always in an infinitesimal proportion to the whole.

Madame Viscioletta, whom I went to see every day, treated me as theFlorentine widow had done, though the widow required forms and ceremonieswhich I could dispense with in the presence of the fair Viscioletta, whowas nothing else than a professional courtezan, though she called herselfa virtuosa.

I had besieged her for three weeks without any success, and when I madeany attempts she repulsed me laughingly.

Monsignor Buoncompagni, the vice-legate, was her lover in secret, thoughall the town knew it, but this sort of conventional secrecy is commonenough in Italy. As as ecclesiastic he could not court her openly, butthe hussy made no mystery whatever of his visits.

Being in need of money, and preferring to get rid of my carriage than ofanything else, I announced it for sale at the price of three hundred andfifty Roman crowns. It was a comfortable and handsome carriage, and waswell worth the price. I was told that the vice-legate offered threehundred crowns, and I felt a real pleasure in contradicting my favouredrival's desires. I told the man that I had stated my price and meant toadhere to it, as I was not accustomed to bargaining.

I went to see my carriage at noon one day to make sure that it was ingood condition, and met the vice-legate who knew me from meeting me atthe legate's, and must have been aware that I was poaching on hispreserves. He told me rudely that the carriage was not worth more thanthree hundred crowns, and that I ought to be glad of the opportunity ofgetting rid of it, as it was much too good for me.

I had the strength of mind to despise his violence, and telling him drylythat I did not chaffer I turned my back on him and went my way.

Next day the fair Viscioletta wrote me a note to the effect that shewould be very much obliged if I would let the vice-legate have thecarriage at his own price, as she felt sure he would give it to her. Ireplied that I would call on her in the afternoon, and that my answerwould depend on my welcome, I went in due course, and after a livelydiscussion, she gave way, and I signified my willingness to sell thecarriage for the sum offered by the vice-legate.

The next day she had her carriage, and I had my three hundred crowns, andI let the proud prelate understand that I had avenged myself for hisrudeness.

About this time Severini succeeded in obtaining a position as tutor in anillustrious Neapolitan family, and as soon as he received his journey-money he left Bologna. I also had thoughts of leaving the town.

I had kept up an interesting correspondence with M. Zaguri, who had madeup his mind to obtain my recall in concert with Dandolo, who desirednothing better. Zaguri told me that if I wanted to obtain my pardon Imust come and live as near as possible to the Venetian borders, so thatthe State Inquisitors might satisfy themselves of my good conduct.M. Zuliani, brother to the Duchess of Fiano, gave me the same advice, andpromised to use all his interest in my behalf.

With the idea of following this counsel I decided to set up my abode atTrieste, where M. Zaguri told me he had an intimate friend to whom hewould give me a letter of introduction. As I could not go by landwithout passing through the States of Venice I resolved to go to Ancona,whence boats sail to Trieste every day. As I should pass through PesaroI asked my patron to give me a letter for the Marquis Mosca, adistinguished man of letters whom I had long wished to know. Just thenhe was a good deal talked about on account of a treatise on alms which hehad recently published, and which the Roman curia had placed on the"Index."

The marquis was a devotee as well as a man of learning, and was imbuedwith the doctrine of St. Augustine, which becomes Jansenism if pushed toan extreme point.

I was sorry to leave Bologna, for I had spent eight pleasant monthsthere. In two days I arrived at Pesaro in perfect health and wellprovided for in every way.

I left my letter with the marquis, and he came to see me the same day.He said his house would always be open to me, and that he would leave mein his wife's hands to be introduced to everybody and everything in theplace. He ended by asking me to dine with him the following day, addingthat if I cared to examine his library he could give me an excellent cupof chocolate.

I went, and saw an enormours collection of comments on the Latin poetsfrom Ennius to the poets of the twelfth century of our era. He had hadthem all printed at his own expense and at his private press, in fourtall folios, very accurately printed but without elegance. I told him myopinion, and he agreed that I was right.

The want of elegance which had spared him an outlay of a hundred thousandfrancs had deprived him of a profit of three hundred thousand.

He presented me with a copy, which he sent to my inn, with an immensefolio volume entitled "Marmora Pisaurentia," which I had no time toexamine.

I was much pleased with the marchioness, who had three daughters and twosons, all good-looking and well bred.

The marchioness was a woman of the world, while her husband's interestswere confined to his books. This difference in disposition sometimesgave rise to a slight element of discord, but a stranger would never havenoticed it if he had not been told.

Fifty years ago a wise man said to me: "Every family is troubled by somesmall tragedy, which should be kept private with the greatest care. Infine, people should learn to wash their dirty linen in private."

The marchioness paid me great attention during the five days I spent atPesaro. In the day she drove me from one country house to another, andat night she introduced me to all the nobility of the town.

The marquis might have been fifty then. He was cold by temperament, hadno other passion but that of study, and his morals were pure. He hadfounded an academy of which he was the president. Its design was a fly,in allusion to his name Mosca, with the words 'de me ce', that is to say,take away 'c' from 'musca' and you have 'musa'.

His only failing was that which the monks regard as his finest quality,he was religious to excess, and this excess of religion went beyond thebounds where 'nequit consistere rectum'.

But which is the better, to go beyond these bounds, or not to come up tothem? I cannot venture to decide the question. Horace says,--

"Nulla est mihi religio!"

and it is the beginning of an ode in which he condemns philosophy forestranging him from religion.

Excess of every kind is bad.

I left Pesaro delighted with the good company I had met, and only sorry Ihad not seen the marquis's brother who was praised by everyone.

CHAPTER XX

A Jew Named Mardocheus Becomes My Travelling Companion--He Persuades Meto Lodge in His House--I Fall in Love With His Daughter Leah--After a Stay of Six Weeks I Go to Trieste

Some time elapsed before I had time to examine the Marquis of Mosca'scollection of Latin poets, amongst which the 'Priapeia' found no place.

No doubt this work bore witness to his love for literature but not to hislearning, for there was nothing of his own in it. All he had done was toclassify each fragment in chronological order. I should have liked tosee notes, comments, explanations, and such like; but there was nothingof the kind. Besides, the type was not elegant, the margins were poor,the paper common, and misprints not infrequent. All these are badfaults, especially in a work which should have become a classic.Consequently, the book was not a profitable one; and as the marquis wasnot a rich man he was occasionally reproached by his wife for the moneyhe had expended.

I read his treatise on almsgiving and his apology for it, and understooda good deal of the marquis's way of thinking. I could easily imaginethat his writings must have given great offence at Rome, and that withsounder judgment he would have avoided this danger. Of course themarquis was really in the right, but in theology one is only in the rightwhen Rome says yes.

The marquis was a rigorist, and though he had a tincture of Jansenism heoften differed from St. Augustine.

He denied, for instance, that almsgiving could annul the penalty attachedto sin, and according to him the only sort of almsgiving which had anymerit was that prescribed in the Gospel: "Let not thy right hand knowwhat thy left hand doeth."

He even maintained that he who gave alms sinned unless it was done withthe greatest secrecy, for alms given in public are sure to be accompaniedby vanity.

It might have been objected that the merit of alms lies in the intentionwith which they are given. It is quite possible for a good man to slip apiece of money into the palm of some miserable being standing in a publicplace, and yet this may be done solely with the idea of relievingdistress without a thought of the onlookers.

As I wanted to go to Trieste, I might have crossed the gulf by a smallboat from Pesaro; a good wind was blowing, and I should have got toTrieste in twelve hours. This was my proper way, for I had nothing to doat Ancona, and it was a hundred miles longer; but I had said I would goby Ancona, and I felt obliged to do so.

I had always a strong tincture of superstition, which has exercisedconsiderable influence on my strange career.

Like Socrates I, too, had a demon to whom I referred my doubtfulcounsels, doing his will, and obeying blindly when I felt a voice withinme telling me to forbear.

A hundred times have I thus followed my genius, and occasionally I havefelt inclined to complain that it did not impel me to act against myreason more frequently. Whenever I did so I found that impulse was rightand reason wrong, and for all that I have still continued reasoning.

When I arrived at Senegallia, at three stages from Ancona, my vetturinoasked me, just as I was going to bed, whether I would allow him toaccommodate a Jew who was going to Ancona in the chaise.

My first impulse made me answer sharply that I wanted no one in mychaise, much less a Jew.

The vetturino went out, but a voice said within me, "You must take this'poor Israelite;" and in spite of my repugnance I called back the man andsignified my assent.

"Then you must make up your mind to start at an earlier hour, for it isFriday to-morrow, and you know the Jews are not allowed to travel aftersunset."

"I shall not start a moment earlier than I intended, but you can makeyour horses travel as quickly as you like."

He gave me no answer, and went out. The next morning I found my Jew, anhonest-looking fellow, in the carriage. The first thing he asked me waswhy I did not like Jews.

"Because your religion teaches you to hate men of all other religions,especially Christians, and you think you have done a meritorious actionwhen you have deceived us. You do not look upon us as brothers. You areusurious, unmerciful, our enemies, and so I do not like you."

"You are mistaken, sir. Come with me to our synagogue this evening, andyou will hear us pray for all Christians, beginning with our Lord thePope."

I could not help bursting into a roar of laughter.

"True," I replied, "but the prayer comes from the mouth only, and notfrom the heart. If you do not immediately confess that the Jews wouldnot pray for the Christians if they were the masters, I will fling youout of the chaise."

Of course I did not carry out this threat, but I completed his confusionby quoting in Hebrew the passages in the Old Testament, where the Jewsare bidden to do all possible harm to the Gentiles, whom they were tocurse every day.

After this the poor man said no more. When we were going to take ourdinner I asked him to sit beside me, but he said his religion would notallow him to do so, and that he would only eat eggs, fruit, and somefoiegras sausage he had in his pocket. He only drank water because hewas not sure that the wine was unadulterated.

"You stupid fellow," I exclaimed, "how can you ever be certain of thepurity of wine unless you have made it yourself?"

When we were on our way again he said that if I liked to come and staywith him, and to content myself with such dishes as God had notforbidden, he would make me more comfortable than if I went to the inn,and at a cheaper rate.

"Then you let lodgings to Christians?"

"I don't let lodgings to anybody, but I will make an exception in yourcase to disabuse you of some of your mistaken notions. I will only askyou six pauls a day, and give you two good meals without wine."

"Then you must give me fish and wine, I paying for them as extras."

"Certainly; I have a Christian cook, and my wife pays a good deal ofattention to the cooking."

"You can give me the foie gras every day, if you will eat it with me."

"I know what you think, but you shall be satisfied."

I got down at the Jew's house, wondering at myself as I did so. However,I knew that if I did not like my accommodation I could leave the nextday.

His wife and children were waiting for him, and gave him a joyful welcomein honour of the Sabbath. All servile work was forbidden on this dayholy to the Lord; and all over the house, and in the face of all thefamily, I observed a kind of festal air.

I was welcomed like a brother, and I replied as best I could; but a wordfrom Mardocheus (so he was called) changed their politeness of feelinginto a politeness of interest.

Mardocheus shewed me two rooms for me to choose the one which suited me,but liking them both I said I would take the two for another paul a day,with which arrangement he was well enough pleased.

Mardocheus told his wife what we had settled, and she instructed theChristian servant to cook my supper for me.

I had my effects taken upstairs, and then went with Mardocheus to thesynagogue.

During the short service the Jews paid no attention to me or to severalother Christians who were present. The Jews go to the synagogue to pray,and in this respect I think their conduct worthy of imitation by theChristians.

On leaving the synagogue I went by myself to the Exchange, thinking overthe happy time which would never return.

It was in Ancona that I had begun to enjoy life; and when I thought itover, it was quite a shock to find that this was thirty years ago, forthirty years is a long period in a man's life. And yet I felt quitehappy, in spite of the tenth lustrum so near at hand for me.

What a difference I found between my youth and my middle age! I couldscarcely recognize myself. I was then happy, but now unhappy; then allthe world was before me, and the future seemed a gorgeous dream, and nowI was obliged to confess that my life had been all in vain. I might livetwenty years more, but I felt that the happy time was passed away, andthe future seemed all dreary.

I reckoned up my forty-seven years, and saw fortune fly away. This initself was enough to sadden me, for without the favours of the ficklegoddess life was not worth living, for me at all events.

My object, then, was to return to my country; it was as if I struggled toundo all that I had done. All I could hope for was to soften thehardships of the slow but certain passage to the grave.

These are the thoughts of declining years and not of youth. The youngman looks only to the present, believes that the sky will always smileupon him, and laughs at philosophy as it vainly preaches of old age,misery, repentance, and, worst of all, abhorred death.

Such were my thoughts twenty-six years ago; what must they be now, when Iam all alone, poor, despised, and impotent. They would kill me if I didnot resolutely subdue them, for whether for good or ill my heart is stillyoung. Of what use are desires when one can no longer satisfy them? Iwrite to kill ennui, and I take a pleasure in writing. Whether I writesense or nonsense, what matters? I am amused, and that is enough.

When I came back I found Mardocheus at supper with his numerous family,composed of eleven or twelve individuals, and including his mother--anold woman of ninety, who looked very well. I noticed another Jew ofmiddle age; he was the husband of his eldest daughter, who did not strikeme as pretty; but the younger daughter, who was destined for a Jew ofPesaro, whom she had never seen, engaged all my attention. I remarked toher that if she had not seen her future husband she could not be in lovewith him, whereupon she replied in a serious voice that it was notnecessary to be in love before one married. The old woman praised thegirl for this sentiment, and said she had not been in love with herhusband till the first child was born.

I shall call the pretty Jewess Leah, as I have good reasons for not usingher real name.

While they were enjoying their meal I sat down beside her and tried tomake myself as agreeable as possible, but she would not even look at me.

My supper was excellent, and my bed very comfortable.

The next day my landlord told me that I could give my linen to the maid,and that Leah could get it up for me.

I told him I had relished my supper, but that I should like the foie grasevery day as I had a dispensation.

"You shall have some to-morrow, but Leah is the only one of us who eatsit."

"Then Leah must take it with me, and you can tell her that I shall giveher some Cyprus wine which is perfectly pure."

I had no wine, but I went for it the same morning to the Venetian consul,giving him M. Dandolo's letter.

The consul was a Venetian of the old leaven. He had heard my name, andseemed delighted to make my acquaintance. He was a kind of clown withoutthe paint, fond of a joke, a regular gourmand, and a man of greatexperience. He sold me some Scopolo and old Cyprus Muscat, but he beganto exclaim when he heard where I was lodging, and how I had come there.

"He is rich," he said, "but he is also a great usurer, and if you borrowmoney of him he will make you repent it."

After informing the consul that I should not leave till the end of themonth, I went home to dinner, which proved excellent.

The next day I gave out my linen to the maid, and Leah came to ask me howI liked my lace got up.

If Leah had examined me more closely she would have seen that the sightof her magnificent breast, unprotected by any kerchief, had had aremarkable effect on me.

I told her that I left it all to her, and that she could do what sheliked with the linen.

"Then it will all come under my hands if you are in no hurry to go."

"You can make me stay as long as you like," said I; but she seemed not tohear this declaration.

"Everything is quite right," I continued, "except the chocolate; I likeit well frothed."

"Then I will make it for you myself."

"Then I will give out a double quantity, and we will take it together."

"I don't like chocolate."

"I am sorry to hear that; but you like foie gras?"

"Yes, I do; and from what father tells me I am going to take some withyou to-day."

"I shall be delighted."

"I suppose you are afraid of being poisoned?"

"Not at all; I only wish we could die together."

She pretended not to understand, and left me burning with desire. I feltthat I must either obtain possession of her or tell her father not tosend her into my room any more.

The Turin Jewess had given me some valuable hints as to the conduct ofamours with Jewish girls.

My theory was that Leah would be more easily won than she, for at Anconathere was much more liberty than at Turin.

This was a rake's reasoning, but even rakes are mistaken sometimes.

The dinner that was served to me was very good, though cooked in theJewish style, and Leah brought in the foie gras and sat down opposite tome with a muslin kerchief over her breast.

The foie gras was excellent, and we washed it down with copious libationsof Scopolo, which Leah found very much to her taste.

When the foie gras was finished she got up, but I stopped her, for thedinner was only half over.

"I will stay then," said she, "but I am afraid my father will object."

"Very good. Call your master," I said to the maid who came in at thatmoment, "I have a word to speak to him."

"My dear Mardocheus," I said when he came, "your daughter's appetitedoubles mine, and I shall be much obliged if you will allow her to keepme company whenever we have foie gras."

"It isn't to my profit to double your appetite, but if you like to paydouble I shall have no objection."

"Very good, that arrangement will suit me."

In evidence of my satisfaction I gave him a bottle of Scopolo, which Leahguaranteed pure.

We dined together, and seeing that the wine was making her mirthful Itold her that her eyes were inflaming me and that she must let me kissthem.

"My duty obliges me to say nay. No kissing and no touching; we have onlygot to eat and drink together, and I shall like it as much as you."

"You are cruel."

"I am wholly dependent on my father."

"Shall I ask your father to give you leave to be kind?"

"I don't think that would be proper, and my father might be offended andnot allow me to see you any more."

"And supposing he told you not to be scrupulous about trifles?"

"Then I should despise him and continue to do my duty."

So clear a declaration shewed me that if I persevered in this intrigue Imight go on for ever without success. I also bethought me that I ran arisk of neglecting my chief business, which would not allow me to staylong in Ancona.

I said nothing more to Leah just then, and when the dessert came in Igave her some Cyprus wine, which she declared was the most deliciousnectar she had ever tasted.

I saw that the wine was heating her, and it seemed incredible to me thatBacchus should reign without Venus; but she had a hard head, her bloodwas hot and her brain cool.

However, I tried to seize her hand and kiss it, but she drew it away,saying pleasantly,--

"It's too much for honour and too little for love."

This witty remark amused me, and it also let me know that she was notexactly a neophyte.

I determined to postpone matters till the next day, and told her not toget me any supper as I was supping with the Venetian consul.

The consul had told me that he did not dine, but that he would always bedelighted to see me at supper.

It was midnight when I came home, and everyone was asleep except the maidwho let me in. I gave her such a gratuity that she must have wished meto keep late hours for the rest of my stay.

I proceeded to sound her about Leah, but she told me nothing but good.If she was to be believed, Leah was a good girl, always at work, loved byall, and fancy free. The maid could not have praised her better if shehad been paid to do so.

In the morning Leah brought the chocolate and sat down on my bed, sayingthat we should have some fine foie gras, and that she should have all thebetter appetite for dinner as she had not taken any supper.

"Why didn't you take any supper?"

"I suppose it was because of your excellent Cyprus wine, to which myfather has taken a great liking."

"Ah! he like it? We will give him some."

Leah was in a state of undress as before, and the sight of her half-covered spheres drove me to distraction.

"Are you not aware that you have a beautiful breast?" said I.

"I thought all young girls were just the same."

"Have you no suspicion that the sight is a very pleasant one for me?"

"If that be so, I am very glad, for I have nothing to be ashamed of, fora girl has no call to hide her throat any more than her face, unless sheis in grand company."

As she was speaking, Leah looked at a golden heart transfixed with anarrow and set with small diamonds which served me as a shirt stud.

"Do you like the little heart?" said I.

"Very much. Is it pure gold?"

"Certainly, and that being so I think I may offer it to you."

So saying I took it off, but she thanked me politely, and said that agirl who gave nothing must take nothing.

"Take it; I will never ask any favour of you."

"But I should be indebted to you, and that's the reason why I never takeanything."

I saw that there was nothing to be done, or rather that it would benecessary to do too much to do anything, and that in any case the bestplan would be to give her up.

I put aside all thoughts of violence, which would only anger her or makeher laugh at me. I should either have been degraded, or rendered moreamorous, and all for nothing. If she had taken offense she would nothave come to see me any more, and I should have had nought to complainof. In fine I made up my mind to restrain myself, and indulge no more inamorous talk.

We dined very pleasantly together. The servant brought in some shell-fish, which are forbidden by the Mosaic Law. While the maid was in theroom I asked Leah to take some, and she refused indignantly; but directlythe girl was gone she took some of her own accord and ate them eagerly,assuring me that it was the first time she had had the pleasure oftasting shellfish.

"This girl," I said to myself, "who breaks the law of her religion withsuch levity, who likes pleasure and does not conceal it, this is the girlwho wants to make me believe that she is insensible to the pleasures oflove; that's impossible, though she may not love me. She must have somesecret means of satisfying her passions, which in my opinion are veryviolent. We will see what can be done this evening with the help of abottle of good Muscat."

However, when the evening came, she said she could not drink or eatanything, as a meal always prevented her sleeping.

The next day she brought me my chocolate, but her beautiful breast wascovered with a white kerchief. She sat down on the bed as usual, and Iobserved in a melancholy manner that she had only covered her breastbecause I had said I took a pleasure in seeing it.

She replied that she had not thought of anything, and had only put on herkerchief because she had had no time to fasten her stays.

"You are whole right," I said, smilingly, "for if I were to see the wholebreast I might not think it beautiful."

She gave no answer, and I finished my chocolate.

I recollected my collection of obscene pictures, and I begged Leah togive me the box, telling her that I would shew her some of the mostbeautiful breasts in the world.

"I shan't care to see them," said she; but she gave me the box, and satdown on my bed as before.

I took out a picture of a naked woman lying on her back and abusingherself, and covering up the lower part of it I shewed it to Leah.

"My dear Leah, your sincerity is too much for me. Either be kind orvisit me no more."

"You are very weak, I think."

"Yes, because I am strong."

"Then henceforth we shall only meet at dinner. But chew me some moreminiatures."

"I have some pictures which you will not like."

"Let me see them."

I gave her Arentin's figures, and was astonished to see how coolly sheexamined them, passing from one to the other in the most commonplace way.

"Do you think them interesting?" I said.

"Yes, very; they are so natural. But a good girl should not look at suchpictures; anyone must be aware that these voluptuous attitudes exciteone's emotions."

"I believe you, Leah, and I feel it as much as you. Look here!"

She smiled and took the book away to the window, turning her back towardsme without taking any notice of my appeal.

I had to cool down and dress myself, and when the hairdresser arrivedLeah went away, saying she would return me my book at dinner.

I was delighted, thinking I was sure of victory either that day or thenext, but I was out of my reckoning.

We dined well and drank better. At dessert Leah took the book out of herpocket and set me all on fire by asking me to explain some of thepictures but forbidding all practical demonstration.

I went out impatiently, determined to wait till next morning.

When the cruel Jewess came in the morning she told me that she wantedexplanations, but that I must use the pictures and nothing more as ademonstration of my remarks.

"Certainly," I replied, "but you must answer all my questions as to yoursex."

"I promise to do so, if they arise naturally from the pictures."

The lesson lasted two hours, and a hundred times did I curse Aretin andmy folly in shewing her his designs, for whenever I made the slightestattempt the pitiless woman threatened to leave me. But the informationshe gave me about her own sex was a perfect torment to me. She told methe most lascivious details, and explained with the utmost minuteness thedifferent external and internal movements which would be developed in thecopulations pictured by Aretin. I thought it quite impossible that shecould be reasoning from theory alone. She was not troubled by theslightest tincture of modesty, but philosophized on coition as coolly andmuch more learnedly than Hedvig. I would willingly have given her all Ipossessed to crown her science by the performance of the great work. Sheswore it was all pure theory with her, and I thought she must be speakingthe truth when she said she wanted to get married to see if her notionswere right or wrong. She looked pensive when I told her that the husbanddestined for her might be unable to discharge his connubial duties morethan once a week.

"Do you mean to say," said she, "that one man is not as good as another?"

"How do you mean?"

"Are not all men able to make love every day, and every hour, just asthey eat, drink and sleep every day?"

"No, dear Leah, they that can make love every day are very scarce."

In my state of chronic irritation I felt much annoyed that there was nodecent place at Ancona where a man might appease his passions for hismoney. I trembled to think that I was in danger of falling really inlove with Leah, and I told the consul every day that I was in no hurry togo. I was as foolish as a boy in his calf-love. I pictured Leah as thepurest of women, for with strong passions she refused to gratify them.I saw in her a model of virtue; she was all self-restraint and purity,resisting temptation in spite of the fire that consumed her.

Before long the reader will discover how very virtuous Leah was.

After nine or ten days I had recourse to violence, not in deeds but inwords. She confessed I was in the right, and said my best plan would beto forbid her to come and see me in the morning. At dinner, according toher, there would be no risk.

I made up my mind to ask her to continue her visits, but to cover herbreast and avoid all amorous conversation.

"With all my heart," she replied, laughing; "but be sure I shall not bethe first to break the conditions."

I felt no inclination to break them either, for three days later I feltweary of the situation, and told the consul I would start on the firstopportunity. My passion for Leah was spoiling my appetite, and I thussaw myself deprived of my secondary pleasure without any prospect ofgaining my primary enjoyment.

After what I had said to the consul I felt I should be bound to go, and Iwent to bed calmly enough. But about two o'clock in the morning I had,contrary to my usual habit, to get up and offer sacrifice to Cloacina. Ileft my room without any candle, as I knew my way well enough about thehouse.

The temple of the goddess was on the ground floor, but as I had put on mysoft slippers, and walked very softly, my footsteps did not make theleast noise.

On my way upstairs I saw a light shining through a chink in the door of aroom which I knew to be unoccupied. I crept softly up, not dreaming fora moment that Leah could be there at such an hour. But on putting my eyeto the chink I found I could see a bed, and on it were Leah and a youngman, both stark naked, and occupied in working out Aretin's postures tothe best of their ability. They were whispering to one another, andevery four or five minutes I had the pleasure of seeing a new posture.These changes of position gave me a view of all the beauties of Leah, andthis pleasure was something to set against my rage in having taken such aprofligate creature for a virtuous woman.

Every time they approached the completion of the great work they stoppedshort, and completed what they were doing with their hands.

When they were doing the Straight Tree, to my mind the most lascivious ofthem all, Leah behaved like a true Lesbian; for while the young manexcited her amorous fury she got hold of his instrument and took itbetween her lips till the work was complete. I could not doubt that shehad swallowed the vital fluid of my fortunate rival.

The Adonis then shewed her the feeble instrument, and Leah seemed toregret what she had done. Before long she began to excite him again; butthe fellow looked at his watch, pushed her away, and began to put on hisshirt.

Leah seemed angry, and I could see that she reproached him for some timebefore she began to dress.

When they were nearly clothed I softly returned to my room and looked outof a window commanding the house-door. I had not to wait long before Isaw the fortunate lover going out.

I went to bed indignant with Leah; I felt myself degraded. She was nolonger virtuous, but a villainous prostitute in my eyes; and I fell tosleep with the firm resolve of driving her from my room the next morning,after shaming her with the story of the scene I had witnessed. But,alas, hasty and angry resolves can seldom withstand a few hours' sleep.As soon as I saw Leah coming in with my chocolate, smiling and gay asusual, I told her quite coolly all the exploits I had seen her executing,laying particular stress on the Straight Tree, and the curious liquid shehad swallowed. I ended by saying that I hoped she would give me the nextnight, both to crown my love and insure my secrecy.

She answered with perfect calm that I had nothing to expect from her asshe did not love me, and as for keeping the secret she defied me todisclose it.

"I am sure you would not be guilty of such a disgraceful action," saidshe.

With these words she turned her back on me and went out.

I could not help confessing to myself that she was in the right; I couldnot bring myself to commit such a baseness. She had made me reasonablein a few words:

"I don't love you." There was no reply to this, and I felt I had noclaim on her.

Rather it was she who might complain of me; what right had I to spy overher? I could not accuse her of deceiving me; she was free to do what sheliked with herself. My best course was clearly to be silent.

I dressed myself hastily, and went to the Exchange, where I heard that avessel was sailing for Fiume the same day.

Fiume is just opposite Ancona on the other side of the gulf. From Fiumeto Trieste the distance is forty miles, and I decided to go by thatroute.

I went aboard the ship and took the best place, said good-bye to theconsul, paid Mardocheus, and packed my trunks.

Leah heard that I was going the same day, and came and told me that shecould not give me back my lace and my silk stockings that day, but that Icould have them by the next day.

"Your father," I replied coolly, "will hand them all over to the Venetianconsul, who will send them to me at Trieste."

Just as I was sitting down to dinner, the captain of the boat came for myluggage with a sailor. I told him he could have my trunk, and that Iwould bring the rest aboard whenever he liked to go.

"I intend setting out an hour before dusk."

"I shall be ready."

When Mardocheus heard where I was going he begged me to take charge of asmall box and a letter he wanted to send to a friend.

"I shall be delighted to do you this small service."

At dinner Leah sat down with me and chattered as usual, without troublingherself about my monosyllabic answers.

I supposed she wished me to credit her with calm confidence andphilosophy, while I looked upon it all as brazen impudence.

I hated and despised her. She had inflamed my passions, told me to myface she did not love me, and seemed to claim my respect through it all.Possibly she expected me to be grateful for her remark that she believedme incapable of betraying her to her father.

As she drank my Scopolo she said there were several bottles left, as wellas some Muscat.

"I make you a present of it all," I replied, "it will prime you up foryour nocturnal orgies."

She smiled and said I had had a gratuitous sight of a spectacle which wasworth money, and that if I were not going so suddenly she would gladlyhave given me another opportunity.

This piece of impudence made me want to break the wine bottle on herhead. She must have known what I was going to do from the way I took itup, but she did not waver for a moment. This coolness of hers preventedmy committing a crime.

I contented myself with saying that she was the most impudent slut I hadever met, and I poured the wine into my glass with a shaking hand, as ifthat were the purpose for which I had taken up the bottle.

After this scene I got up and went into the next room; nevertheless, inhalf an hour she came to take coffee with me.

This persistence of hers disgusted me, but I calmed myself by thereflection that her conduct must be dictated by vengeance.

"I should like to help you to pack," said she.

"And I should like to be left alone," I replied; and taking her by thearm I led her out of the room and locked the door after her.

We were both of us in the right. Leah had deceived and humiliated me,and I had reason to detest her, while I had discovered her for a monsterof hypocrisy and immodesty, and this was good cause for her to dislikeme.

Towards evening two sailors came after the rest of the luggage, andthanking my hostess I told Leah to put up my linen, and to give it to herfather, who had taken the box of which I was to be the bearer down to thevessel.

We set sail with a fair wind, and I thought never to set face on Leahagain. But fate had ordered otherwise.

We had gone twenty miles with a good wind in our quarter, by which wewere borne gently from wave to wave, when all of a sudden there fell adead calm.

These rapid changes are common enough in the Adriatic, especially in thepart we were in.

The calm lasted but a short time, and a stiff wind from the west-north-west began to blow, with the result that the sea became very rough, and Iwas very ill.

At midnight the storm had become dangerous. The captain told me that ifwe persisted in going in the wind's eye we should be wrecked, and thatthe only thing to be done was to return to Ancona.

In less than three hours we made the harbour, and the officer of theguard having recognized me kindly allowed me to land.

While I was talking to the officer the sailors took my trunks, andcarried them to my old lodgings without waiting to ask my leave.

I was vexed. I wanted to avoid Leah, and I had intended to sleep at thenearest inn. However, there was no help for it. When I arrived the Jewgot up, and said he was delighted to see me again.

It was past three o'clock in the morning, and I felt very ill, so I saidI would not get up till late, and that I would dine in my bed without anyfoie gras. I slept ten hours, and when I awoke I felt hungry and rang mybell.

The maid answered and said that she would have the honour of waiting onme, as Leah had a violent headache.

I made no answer, thanking Providence for delivering me from thisimpudent and dangerous woman.

Having found my dinner rather spare I told the cook to get me a goodsupper.

The weather was dreadful. The Venetian consul had heard of my return,and not having seen me concluded I was ill, and paid me a two hours'visit. He assured me the storm would last for a week at least. I wasvery sorry to hear it; in the first place, because I did not want to seeany more of Leah, and in the second, because I had not got any money.Luckily I had got valuable effects, so this second consideration did nottrouble me much.

As I did not see Leah at supper-time I imagined that she was feigningillness to avoid meeting me, and I felt very much obliged to her on thisaccount. As it appeared, however, I was entirely mistaken in myconjectures.

The next day she came to ask for chocolate in her usual way, but she nolonger bore upon her features her old tranquillity of expression.

"I will take coffee, mademoiselle," I observed; "and as I do not wantfoie gras any longer, I will take dinner by myself. Consequently, youmay tell your father that I shall only pay seven pauls a day. In futureI shall only drink Orvieto wine."

"You have still four bottles of Scopolo and Cyprus"

"I never take back a present; the wine belongs to you. I shall beobliged by your leaving me alone as much as possible, as your conduct isenough to irritate Socrates, and I am not Socrates. Besides, the verysight of you is disagreeable to me. Your body may be beautiful, butknowing that the soul within is a monster it charms me no longer. Youmay be very sure that the sailors brought my luggage here without myorders, or else you would never have seen me here again, where I dreadbeing poisoned every day."

Leah went out without giving me any answer, and I felt certain that aftermy plain-spoken discourse she would take care not to trouble me again.

Experience had taught me that girls like Leah are not uncommon. I hadknown specimens at Spa, Genoa, London, and at Venice, but this Jewess wasthe worst I had ever met.

It was Saturday. When Mardocheus came back from the synagogue he askedme gaily why I had mortified his daughter, as she had declared she haddone nothing to offend me.

"I have not mortified her, my dear Mardocheus, or at all events, such wasnot my intention; but as I have put myself on diet, I shall be eating nomore foie gras, and consequently I shall dine by myself, and save threepauls a day."

"Leah is quite ready to pay me out of her private purse, and she wants todine with you to assure you against being poisoned, as she informs methat you have expressed that fear."

"That was only a jest; I am perfectly aware that I am in the house of anhonest man. I don't want your daughter to pay for herself, and to provethat I am not actuated by feelings of economy, you shall dine with metoo. To offer to pay for me is an impertinence on her part. In fine, Iwill either dine by myself and pay you seven pawls a day, or I will payyou thirteen, and have both father and daughter to dine with me."

The worthy Mardocheus went away, saying that he really could not allow meto dine by myself.

At dinner-time I talked only to Mardocheus, without glancing at Leah orpaying any attention to the witty sallies she uttered to attract me. Ionly drank Orvieto.

At dessert Leah filled my glass with Scopolo, saying that if I did notdrink it neither would she.

I replied, without looking at her, that I advised her only to drink waterfor the future, and that I wanted nothing at her hands.

Mardocheus, who liked wine, laughed and said I was right, and drank forthree.

The weather continued bad, and I spent the rest of the day in writing,and after supper I retired and went to sleep.

Suddenly I was aroused by a slight noise.

"Who is there?" said I.

I heard Leah's voice, whispering in reply,

"'Tis I; I have not come to disturb you, but to justify myself."

So saying she lay down on the bed, but on the outside of the coverlet.

I was pleased with this extraordinary visit, for my sole desire was forvengeance, and I felt certain of being able to resist all her arts. Itherefore told her politely enough that I considered her as alreadyjustified and that I should be obliged by her leaving me as I wanted togo to sleep.

"Not before you have heard what I have to say."

"Go on; I am listening to you."

Thereupon she began a discourse which I did not interrupt, and whichlasted for a good hour.

She spoke very artfully, and after confessing she had done wrong she saidthat at my age I should have been ready to overlook the follies of ayoung and passionate girl. According to her it was all weakness, andpardonable at such an age.

"I swear I love you," said she, "and I would have given you good proofbefore now if I had not been so unfortunate as to love the youngChristian you saw with me, while he does not care for me in the least;indeed I have to pay him.

"In spite of my passion," she continued, "I have never given him what agirl can give but once. I had not seen him for six months, and it wasyour fault that I sent for him, for you inflamed me with your picturesand strong wines."

The end of it all was that I ought to forget everything, and treat herkindly during the few days I was to remain there.

When she finished I did not allow myself to make any objection. Ipretended to be convinced, assuring her that I felt I had been in thewrong in letting her see Aretin's figures, and that I would no longerevince any resentment towards her.

As her explanation did not seem likely to end in the way she wished, shewent on talking about the weakness of the flesh, the strength of self-love which often hushes the voice of passion, etc., etc.; her aim beingto persuade me that she loved me, and that her refusals had all beengiven with the idea of making my love the stronger.

No doubt I might have given her a great many answers, but I said nothing.I made up my mind to await the assault that I saw was impending, and thenby refusing all her advances I reckoned on abasing her to the uttermost.Nevertheless, she made no motion; her hands were at rest, and she kepther face at a due distance from mine.

At last, tired out with the struggle, she left me pretending to beperfectly satisfied with what she had done.

As soon as she had gone, I congratulated myself on the fact that she hadconfined herself to verbal persuasion; for if she had gone further shewould probably have achieved a complete victory, though we were in thedark.

I must mention that before she left me I had to promise to allow her tomake my chocolate as usual.

Early the next morning she came for the stick of chocolate. She was in acomplete state of negligee, and came in on tiptoe, though if she chose tolook towards the bed she might have seen that I was wide awake.

I marked her artifices and her cunning, and resolved to be equal to allher wiles. When she brought the chocolate I noticed that there were twocups on the tray, and I said,--

"Then it is not true that you don't like chocolate?"

"I feel obliged to relieve you of all fear of being poisoned."

I noticed that she was now dressed with the utmost decency, while half anhour before she had only her chemise and petticoat her neck beingperfectly bare. The more resolved she seemed to gain the victory, themore firmly I was determined to humiliate her, as it appeared to me theonly other alternative would have been my shame and dishonour; and thisturned me to stone.

In spite of my resolves, Leah renewed the attack at dinner, for, contraryto my orders, she served a magnificent foie gras, telling me that it wasfor herself, and that if she were poisoned she would die of pleasure;Mardocheus said he should like to die too, and began regaling himself onit with evident relish.

I could not help laughing, and announced my wish to taste the deadlyfood, and so we all of us were eating it.

"Your resolves are not strong enough to withstand seduction," said Leah.This remark piqued me, and I answered that she was imprudent to discloseher designs in such a manner, and that she would find my resolves strongenough when the time came.

A faint smile played about her lips.

"Try if you like," I said, "to persuade me to drink some Scopolo orMuscat. I meant to have taken some, but your taunt has turned me tosteel. I mean to prove that when I make up my mind I never alter it."

"The strong-minded man never gives way," said Leah, "but the good-heartedman often lets himself be overpersuaded."

"Quite so, and the good-hearted girl refrains from taunting a man for hisweakness for her."

I called the maid and told her to go to the Venetian consul's and get mesome more Scopolo and Muscat. Leah piqued me once more by sayingenthusiastically,--

"I am sure you are the most good-hearted of men as well as the firmest."Mardocheus, who could not make out what we meant, ate, drank, andlaughed, and seemed pleased with everything.

In the afternoon I went out to a cafe in spite of the dreadful weather.I thought over Leah and her designs, feeling certain that she would payme another nocturnal visit and renew the assault in force. I resolved toweaken myself with some common woman, if I could find one at allsupportable.

A Greek who had taken me to a disgusting place a few days before,conducted me to another where he introduced me to a painted horror of awoman from whose very sight I fled in terror.

I felt angry that in a town like Ancona a man of some delicacy could notget his money's worth for his money, and went home, supped by myself, andlocked the door after me.

The precaution, however, was useless.

A few minutes after I had shut the door, Leah knocked on the pretext thatI had forgotten to give her the chocolate.

I opened the door and gave it her, and she begged me not to lock myselfin, as she wanted to have an important and final interview.

"You can tell me now what you want to say."

"No, it will take some time, and I should not like to come till everyoneis asleep. You have nothing to be afraid of; you are lord of yourself.You can go to bed in peace."

"I have certainly nothing to be afraid of, and to prove it to you I willleave the door open."

I felt more than ever certain of victory, and resolved not to blow outthe candles, as my doing so might be interpreted into a confession offear. Besides, the light would render my triumph and her humiliationmore complete. With these thoughts I went to bed.

At eleven o'clock a slight noise told me that my hour had come. I sawLeah enter my room in her chemise and a light petticoat. She locked mydoor softly, and when I cried, "Well; what do you want with me?" she lether chemise and petticoat drop, and lay down beside me in a state ofnature.

I was too much astonished to repulse her.

Leah was sure of victory, and without a word she threw herself upon me,pressing her lips to mine, and depriving me of all my faculties exceptone.

I utilised a short moment of reflection by concluding that I was apresumtuous fool, and that Leah was a woman with a most extensiveknowledge of human nature.

In a second my caress became as ardent as hers, and after kissing herspheres of rose and alabaster I penetrated to the sanctuary of love,which, much to my astonishment, I found to be a virgin citadel.

There was a short silence, and then I said,--

"Dearest Leah, you oblige me to adore you; why did you first inspire mewith hate? Are you not come here merely to humiliate me, to obtain anempty victory? If so, I forgive you; but you are in the wrong, for,believe me, enjoyment is sweeter far than vengeance."

"Nay, I have not come to achieve a shameful victory, but to give myselfto you without reserve, to render you my conqueror and my king. Proveyour love by making me happy, break down the barrier which I kept intact,despite its fragility and my ardour, and if this sacrifice does notconvince you of my affection you must be the worst of men."

I had never heard more energetic opinions, and I had never seen a morevoluptuous sight. I began the work, and while Leah aided me to the bestof her ability, I forced the gate, and on Leah's face I read the mostacute pain and pleasure mingled. In the first ecstasy of delight I felther tremble in every limb.

As for me, my enjoyment was quite new; I was twenty again, but I had theself-restraint of my age, and treated Leah with delicacy, holding her inmy arms till three o'clock in the morning. When I left her she wasinundated and exhausted with pleasure, while I could do no more.

She left me full of gratitude, carrying the soaking linen away with her.I slept on till twelve o'clock.

When I awoke and saw her standing by my bedside with the gentle love ofthe day after the wedding, the idea of my approaching departure saddenedme. I told her so, and she begged me to stay on as long as I could. Irepeated that we would arrange everything when we met again at night.

We had a delicious dinner, for Mardocheus was bent on convincing me thathe was no miser.

I spent the afternoon with the consul, and arranged that I should go on aNeapolitan man-of-war which was in quarantine at the time, and was tosail for Trieste.

As I should be obliged to pass another month at Ancona, I blessed thestorm that had driven me back.

I gave the consul the gold snuff-box with which the Elector of Colognehad presented me, keeping the portrait as a memento. Three days later hehanded me forty gold sequins, which was ample for my needs.

My stay in Ancona was costing me dear; but when I told Mardocheus that Ishould not be going for another month he declared he would no longer feedat my expense. Of course I did not insist. Leah still dined with me.

It has always been my opinion, though perhaps I may be mistaken, that theJew was perfectly well aware of my relations with his daughter. Jews areusually very liberal on this article, possibly because they count on thechild being an Israelite.

I took care that my dear Leah should have no reason to repent of ourconnection. How grateful and affectionate she was when I told her that Imeant to stay another month! How she blessed the bad weather which haddriven me back. We slept together every night, not excepting thosenights forbidden by the laws of Moses.

I gave her the little gold heart, which might be worth ten sequins, butthat would be no reward for the care she had taken of my linen. She alsomade me accept some splendid Indian handkerchiefs. Six years later I mether again at Pesaro.

The landlord asked me my name, we made our agreement, and I found myselfvery comfortably lodged. Next day I went to the post-office and foundseveral letters which had been awaiting me for the last month. I openedone from M. Dandolo, and found an open enclosure from the patrician MarcoDona, addressed to Baron Pittoni, Chief of Police. On reading it, Ifound I was very warmly commended to the baron. I hastened to call onhim, and gave him the letter, which he took but did not read. He told methat M. Donna had written to him about me, and that he would be delightedto do anything in his power for me.

I then took Mardocheus's letter to his friend Moses Levi. I had not theslightest idea that the letter had any reference to myself, so I gave itto the first clerk that I saw in the office.

Levi was an honest and an agreeable man, and the next day he called on meand offered me his services in the most cordial manner. He shewed me theletter I had delivered, and I was delighted to find that it referred tomyself. The worthy Mardocheus begged him to give me a hundred sequins incase I needed any money, adding that any politeness shewn to me would beas if shewn to himself.

This behaviour on the part of Mardocheus filled me with gratitude, andreconciled me, so to speak, with the whole Jewish nation. I wrote him aletter of thanks, offering to serve him at Venice in any way I could.

I could not help comparing the cordiality of Levi's welcome with theformal and ceremonious reception of Baron Pittoni. The baron was ten ortwelve years younger than I. He was a man of parts, and quite devoid ofprejudice. A sworn foe of 'meum and tuum', and wholly incapable ofeconomy, he left the whole care of his house to his valet, who robbedhim, but the baron knew it and made no objection. He was a determinedbachelor, a gallant, and the friend and patron of libertines. His chiefdefect was his forgetfulness and absence of mind, which made himmismanage important business.

He was reputed, though wrongly, to be a liar. A liar is a person whotells falsehoods intentionally, while if Pittoni told lies it was becausehe had forgotten the truth. We became good friends in the course of amonth, and we have remained friends to this day.

I wrote to my friends at Venice, announcing my arrival at Trieste, andfor the next ten days I kept my room, busied in putting together thenotes I had made on Polish events since the death of Elizabeth Petrovna.I meant to write a history of the troubles of unhappy Poland up to itsdismemberment, which was taking place at the epoch in which I waswriting.

I had foreseen all this when the Polish Diet recognized the dying czarinaas Empress of all the Russians, and the Elector of Brandenburg as King ofPrussia, and I proceeded with my history; but only the first threevolumes were published, owing to the printers breaking the agreement.

The four last volumes will be found in manuscript after my death, andanyone who likes may publish them. But I have become indifferent to allthis as to many other matters since I have seen Folly crowned king of theearth.

To-day there is no such country as Poland, but it might still be inexistence if it had not been for the ambition of the Czartoryski family,whose pride had been humiliated by Count Bruhl, the prime minister. Togain vengeance Prince Augustus Czartoryski ruined his country. He was soblinded by passion that he forgot that all actions have their inevitableresults.

Czartoryski had determined not only to exclude the House of Saxony fromthe succession, but to dethrone the member of that family who wasreigning. To do this the help of the Czarina and of the Elector ofBrandenburg was necessary, so he made the Polish Diet acknowledge the oneas Empress of all the Russians, and the other as King of Prussia. Thetwo sovereigns would not treat with the Polish Commonwealth till thisclaim had been satisfied; but the Commonwealth should never have grantedthese titles, for Poland itself possessed most of the Russias, and wasthe true sovereign of Prussia, the Elector of Brandenburg being only Dukeof Prussia in reality.

Prince Czartoryski, blinded by the desire of vengeance, persuaded theDiet that to give the two sovereigns these titles would be merely a form,and that they would never become anything more than honorary. This mightbe so, but if Poland had possessed far-seeing statesmen they would haveguessed that an honorary title would end in the usurpation of the wholecountry.

The Russian palatin had the pleasure of seeing his nephew StanislasPoniatowski on the throne.

I myself told him that these titles gave a right, and that the promisenot to make any use of them was a mere delusion. I added jokingly--forI was obliged to adopt a humorous tone--that before long Europe wouldtake pity on Poland, which had to bear the heavy weight of all theRussias and the kingdom of Prussia as well, and the Commonwealth wouldfind itself relieved of all these charges.

My prophecy has been fulfilled. The two princes whose titles wereallowed have torn Poland limb from limb; it is now absorbed in Russia andPrussia.

The second great mistake made by Poland was in not remembering theapologue of the man and the horse when the question of protectionpresented itself.

The Republic of Rome became mistress of the world by protecting othernations.

Thus Poland came to ruin through ambition, vengeance, and folly--butfolly most of all.

The same reason lay at the root of the French Revolution. Louis XVI.paid the penalty of his folly with his life. If he had been a wise rulerhe would still be on the throne, and France would have escaped the furyof the Revolutionists. France is sick; in any other country thissickness might be remedied, but I would not wonder if it proved incurablein France.

Certain emotional persons are moved to pity by the emigrant Frenchnobles, but for my part I think them only worthy of contempt. Instead ofparading their pride and their disgrace before the eyes of foreignnations, they should have rallied round their king, and either have savedthe throne or died under its ruins. What will become of France? It washard to say; but it is certain that a body without a head cannot livevery long, for reason is situate in the head.

On December 1st Baron Pittoni begged me to call on him as some one hadcome from Venice on purpose to see me.

I dressed myself hastily, and went to the baron's, where I saw a fine-looking man of thirty-five or forty, elegantly dressed. He looked at mewith the liveliest interest.

"Exactly so, my dear Casanova. As soon as my friend Dandolo told me ofyour arrival here, I determined to come and congratulate you on yourapproaching recall, which will take place either this year or the next,as I hope to see two friends of mine made Inquisitors. You may judge ofmy friendship for you when I tell you that I am an 'avogador', and thatthere is a law forbidding such to leave Venice. We will spend to-day andto-morrow together."

I replied in a manner to convince him that I was sensible of the honourhe had done me; and I heard Baron Pittoni begging me to excuse him fornot having come to see me. He said he had forgotten all about it, and ahandsome old man begged his excellence to ask me to dine with him, thoughhe had not the pleasure of knowing me.

"What!" said Zaguri. "Casanova has been here for the last ten days, anddoes not know the Venetian consul?"

I hastened to speak.

"It's my own fault," I observed, "I did not like calling on thisgentleman, for fear he might think me contraband."

The consul answered wittily that I was not contraband but in quarantine,pending my return to my native land; and that in the meanwhile his housewould always be open to me, as had been the house of the Venetian consulat Ancona.

In this manner he let me know that he knew something about me, and I wasnot at all sorry for it.

Marco Monti, such was the consul's name, was a man of parts and muchexperience; a pleasant companion and a great conversationalist, fond oftelling amusing stories with a grave face--in fact, most excellentcompany.

I was something of a 'conteur' myself, and we soon became friendly rivalsin telling anecdotes. In spite of his thirty additional years I was atolerable match for him, and when we were in a room there was no questionof gaining to kill the time.

We became fast friends, and I benefited a good deal by his offices duringthe two years I spent in Trieste, and I have always thought that he had aconsiderable share in obtaining my recall. That was my great object inthose days; I was a victim to nostalgia, or home sickness.

With the Swiss and the Sclavs it is really a fatal disease, which carriesthem off if they are not sent home immediately. Germans are subject tothis weakness also; whilst the French suffer very little, and Italiansnot much more from the complaint.

No rule, however, lacks its exception, and I was one. I daresay I shouldhave got over my nostalgia if I had treated it with contempt, and then Ishould not have wasted ten years of my life in the bosom of my cruelstepmother Venice.

I dined with M. Zaguri at the consul's, and I was invited to dine withthe governor, Count Auersperg, the next day.

The visit from a Venetian 'avogador' made me a person of greatconsideration. I was no longer looked upon as an exile, but as one whohad successfully escaped from illegal confinement.

The day after I accompanied M. Zaguri to Gorice, where he stayed threedays to enjoy the hospitality of the nobility. I was included in alltheir invitations, and I saw that a stranger could live very pleasantlyat Gorice.

I met there a certain Count Cobenzl, who may be alive now--a man ofwisdom, generosity, and the vastest learning, and yet without any kind ofpretention. He gave a State dinner to M. Zaguri, and I had the pleasureof meeting there three or four most charming ladies. I also met CountTomes, a Spaniard whose father was in in the Austrian service. He hadmarried at sixty, and had five children all as ugly as himself. Hisdaughter was a charming girl in spite of her plainness; she evidently gother character from the mother's side. The eldest son, who was ugly andsquinted, was a kind of pleasant madman, but he was also a liar, aprofligate, a boaster, and totally devoid of discretion. In spite ofthese defects he was much sought after in society as he told a good taleand made people laugh. If he had been a student, he would have been adistinguished scholar, as his memory was prodigious. He it was whovainly guaranteed the agreement I made with Valerio Valeri for printingmy "History of Poland." I also met at Gorice a Count Coronini, who wasknown in learned circles as the author of some Latin treatises ondiplomacy. Nobody read his books, but everybody agreed that he was avery learned man.

I also met a young man named Morelli, who had written a history of theplace and was on the point of publishing the first volume. He gave mehis MS. begging me to make any corrections that struck me as desirable.I succeeded in pleasing him, as I gave him back his work without a singlenote or alteration of any kind, and thus he became my friend.

I became a great friend of Count Francis Charles Coronini, who was a manof talents. He had married a Belgian lady, but not being able to agreethey had separated and he passed his time in trifling intrigues, hunting,and reading the papers, literary and political. He laughed at thosesages who declared that there was not one really happy person in theworld, and he supported his denial by the unanswerable dictum:

"I myself am perfectly happy."

However, as he died of a tumor in the head at the age of thirty-five, heprobably acknowledged his mistake in the agonies of death.

There is no such thing as a perfectly happy or perfectly unhappy man inthe world. One has more happiness in his life and another moreunhappiness, and the same circumstance may produce widely differenteffects on individuals of different temperaments.

It is not a fact that virtue ensures happiness for the exercise of somevirtues implies suffering, and suffering is incompatible with happiness.

My readers may be aware that I am not inclined to make mental pleasurepre-eminent and all sufficing. It may be a fine thing to have a clearconscience, but I cannot see that it would at all relieve the pangs ofhunger.

Baron Pittoni and myself escorted Zaguri to the Venetian border, and wethen returned to Trieste together.

In three or four days Pittoni took me everywhere, including the clubwhere none but persons of distinction were admitted. This club was heldat the inn where I was staying.

Amongst the ladies, the most noteworthy was the wife of the merchant,David Riguelin, who was a Swabian by birth.

Pittoni was in love with her and continued so till her death. His suitlasted for twelve years, and like Petrarch, he still sighed, still hoped,but never succeeded. Her name was Zanetta, and besides her beauty shehad the charm of being an exquisite singer and a polished hostess. Stillmore noteworthy, however, was the unvarying sweetness and equability ofher disposition.

I did not want to know her long before recognizing that she wasabsolutely impregnable. I told Pittoni so, but all in vain; he still fedon empty hope.

Zanetta had very poor health, though no one would have judged so from herappearance, but it was well known to be the case. She died at an earlyage.

A few days after M. Zaguri's departure, I had a note from the consulinforming me that the Procurator Morosini was stopping in my inn, andadvising me to call on him if I knew him.

I was infinitely obliged for this advice, for M. Morosini was apersonage of the greatest importance. He had known me from childhood,and the reader may remember that he had presented me to MarshalRichelieu, at Fontainebleau, in 1750.